Refrigerating apparatus and method



Sept. 13, 1938. c. E. QUlNN ET A 2,130,027

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS AND METHOD Original Filed Nov. 1, 1955 4Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR- 67:: rd 1 Quinn John R. Las il-z v J' ep 13,193 c. E. QUINN ET AL 2,

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS AND METHOD Original Filed Nov. 1, 1935 4Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR- C/ar'o. 5. Quinn John R- La ssifz Jr.

Sept. 13, 1938. c QUINN ET AL 2,130,027

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS AND METHOD Original Filed Nov. 1, 1953 4Sheets-Sheet 5 '/IIIIIIIIIIIII l/IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII INVENTOR- Clara 1:.qumn John R. Lassifenfl' Sept. 13, 1938. c. E. QUINN ET AL REFRIGERATINGAPPARATUS AND METHOD Original Filed Nov. 1, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 mum mmE a M H n01 W m QHA mun Patented Sept. 13, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE REFRIGERATING APPARATUS AND METHOD Clara E. Quinn and John R.Lassiter, In, New

York, N. Y., assignors, by-mesne assignments, to Broquinda,- Inc., St.Petersburg, Fla, a corporation of Delaware Refiled for abandonedapplication Serial No.

696,160, November 1, 1933.

This application This invention relates broadly to improvements inrefrigerating apparatus and methods of refrigerating.

An important object of this invention is to provide a practical andeflicient refrigerant employing a primary refrigerant and a secondaryrefrigerant.

A further object of this invention is to provide an apparatus of thistype, preferably but not necessarily employing solid carbon dioxide as aprimary refrigerant.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a refrigeratingapparatus having a plurality of compartments to be maintained atrelatively different temperatures by means of a single refrigerantcirculating in heat exchange relation therewith.

These and many other objects, as will appear from the followingdescription when taken in connection with the attached drawings, aresuccessfully obtained by means of this invention.

This invention resides substantially in the combination, construction,arrangement, relative loycation of parts, steps and series of steps, allas will be set forth in full detail below.

This application is a substitute application for application Serial No.696,160, filed November 1, 1933.

Referring to the drawings,

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an apparatus in accordance withthis invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross sectional view taken approximately on theline 3--3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal cross sectional view taken approximately on theline 4-6 of Fig. 3, omitting the insulation surrounding the tank Q toshow the jacket 6;

Fig. 5.is a horizontal cross sectional view taken approximately on theline 55 of Fig. 3, omitting the insulation surrounding the tank 4 toshow the jacket 6;

Fig. 6 is a vertical transverse cross sectional view takenapproximately, on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2; I

Fig. '7 is a side elevational view with some parts broken away of theadjustable distributor;

Fig. 8 is a detail top plan view of the indicator and control knob forthe distributor.

It is common prior art practice to employ a primary refrigerant and asecondary refrigerant circulated by thermosiphonic action between thearticles or spaces to be cooled and the primary refrigerant. It islikewise well known to employ solid carbon dioxide as a refrigerant,However,

difllculties are commonly encountered in the use of solid carbon dioxidefor refrigerating perishable products in spaces containing them becauseof the difliculty of efliciently employing solid carbon dioxide which isnormally at a temperature of approximately minus 114 degrees Fahrenheit.The present invention contemplates the use of, but is not necessarilylimited to the use of, solid carbon dioxide as the primary refrigerant,in conjunction with a thermo-siphonically transferred liquid secondaryrefrigerant. At the same time employing but a single body of such aliquid and a single mass of solid carbon dioxide, a plurality of spacesare simultaneously maintained at different temperatures.

One form of apparatus employing the present invention is illustrated inthe drawings as [comprising an outer casing l of any desiredconfiguration and constructed of any suitable material. The outer casingI may, for example, be made of metal. At 2 is a heat insulating windingof any suitable and well known material having the proper thickness toefiectively prevent the entry of heat into the interior of the cap; Theheat insulating lining 2 is itself provided with a'lining 3.01 somesuitable material such as tar paper, fibre, composition board, or thelike. The solid refrigerant container is illustrated at 4 positionedwithin the cabinet so .as to open exteriorly thereof, and is providedwith a removable cover 5. Surrounding the lower portion of the container4, in heat exchange relation therewith and preferably formed integrallytherewith is an outer casing 6 forming a chamber designated as Atherewith. It will be noted that the bottom of container 4 forms'adouble bottom with the bottom of container 6 and the connecting wall isprovided with a plurality of openings I as shown. Thus the container 4is jacketed entirely around its lower end. These parts are of coursepreferably made of metal or other suitable heat conducting material.Container 6 is provided with a filling pipe in which the closure plug 8fits. At 9, 9, 9 and 9 are metal containers suitably distributed withinthe cabinet and providing spaces to contain perishable and otherproducts to be maintained at desired low temperatures. These containerslikewise open exteriorly of the cabinet and are closed by means ofcovers to, am, Hi and 3. Surrounding the containers 9, 9, 9 and 9respectively are the. metal jackets H, H II", H, respectively, formingtherewith the spaces B, C, D and E respectively. These containers areprovided with double bottoms as before with apertures 1. Thus in all thedouble jacketed containers the secondary refrigerating liquid which iscontained therein may pass in heat exchange relation with the bottom ofthe containers, as well as with the side walls.

At I2 is the supply conduit for the liquid secondary refrigerantforsupplying this liquid from the chamber A to the bottom of thedistributor l3. This distributor, as shown in Fig. '7, comprises anouter casing I4 and a telescoped inner casing I 6 which are providedwith spiral ridges l5 and II respectively. The spacing and size of theridges is such that when the cylinders are properly aligned .,they willcontact throughout their length so that liquid entering the spacebetween the members I4 and I6 must travel upwardly in a spiral path toreach the top of the space therebetween. The outer casing I4 is closedby means of the cover l8 through which extends a shaft [9 connected tothe inner member l6. Thus the container It with its cover is completelysealed and the inner member It may be rotated therein upon itslongitudinal axis. Rotation thereof will vary the relative angulardisplacementbetween the sets of ridges. When the inner member 86 isrevolved through 180 degrees from the position shown in Fig, 7 theridges 91 will extend at a maximum angle to the ridges 5, with theresult that a liquid refrigerant may move directly upwardly in maximumvolume rather than spirally as when the parts are in the position shown.

Issuing from this distributor, at points which are vertically andcircumferentially distributed, are the pipes 24, 25, 26 and 21!. Thesepipes extend respectively to the spaces B, C, D and E. An importantfeature ofvthis invention is involved in the fact, as illustrated in thedrawings, that the pipes 24, 25, 26 and 21 are of different internalbore. The internal bores of these pipes are determined, all otherfactors being predetermined, so as to maintain a particular temperaturecondition within the space to be refrig erated to which they arerespectively connected. Thus, forany setting of the distributor therelative temperatures maintained in the containers 9, 9, 9 and 9 arefixed, but may be simultaneously varied, maintaining their relative proportions by adjusting the distributor to vary the rate of how of thefluid from the distributor.

At 28 is illustrated a stand or bracket by means of which thedistributor is suitably supported within the cabinet. The control shaftI! of the distributor issues into a recess in the top of the cabinet,and is surrounded by means of a suitable protecting tube 23 so that theinsulating backing 32 will not become twisted or disturbed by therotation of the rod l9. At 20 is a dial having suitable ,graduationsthereon which when suitably calibrated will permit of the desiredadjustment of the apparatus. The control member 2| is secured to theshaft i! by means of which the inner member l6 may be rotated. Aremovable'cover plate 22 is provided to enclose these parts.

At 29 is the liquid level pipe which is provided, with branches, as isclear from Fig. 4, which extend to the spaces B, C, D and E. The pipe 29is provided with a pet cook or valve 3 l This pipe extends at a level,and is connected to the jackets at a level to which it is desired tomaintain the liquid secondary refrigerant or heat transfer agent. Thusthe'liquid may be filled into the system provided by the jackets andpipe connections until it begins to overflow through the pet cock 3|,which should be opened through the temperatures.

filling to permit the escape of trapped air. 'In practice the pet cock3| will, of course, extend exteriorly of the casing so as to be readilyaccessible. In adjusting the apparatus for final conditions it has beenfound that when solid carbon dioxide or other refrigerant is introducedinto the container 4, the reduction in temperature which the liquidundergoes will contract it so that its level falls below the level ofpipe 29. It is desirable, therefore, to introduce further liquid intothe jackets to return the level under normal operating conditions tothat of the pipe 29, and its branches. As previously mentioned, all 'theunoccupied space surrounding these elements is preferably packed withsome suitable heat insulating material, which may be a fibrous mate rialor a, ground material such as ground cork. The pipes 30 connect theinterior of container 4 with the space surrounding it so that when solidcarbon dioxide is employed the gas resulting from sublimation may escapeinto and saturate the entire space within'the walls 3. Carbon dioxidegas is a good heat insulator, and being dry and non-injurious either tofood products or the materials of which the container is made, itisdesirable to saturate the entire volume with its gas. Furthermore, uponits release it is at a relatively low temperature, thereby aiding inmaintaining the apparatus at the proper working This gas is evolvedslowly and may easily escape through the various joints between thewalls 3 and the containers into the atmosphere.

At 50, Si, 52 and 52 are the return flow pipes for the secondaryrefrigerant. It is, of course, apparent that. these pipes can be unitedinto one return flow pipe if desired. They are so proportioned-in sizeas not to interfere with the proper free return flow of the fluid inthermo-siphonic action. It is to be noted that pipe 42 connects to thebottom of space A, and pipes 50, 5|, 52 and'53 connect at the top ofspace A and spaces B, C, D and E. 7

Any suitable secondary refrigerant liquid may be employed. It is, ofcourse, desirable that it be liquid at all temperatures encountered inthe operation of the apparatus, and that its viscosity remainsufliciently low so as not to interfere with its movement under thethermo-siphonic force encountered. v

In the operation of the apparatus materials to be refrigerated,depending upon the temperatures to which they are to be maintained at,are introduced into the containers 9, 8 9 and 51. The primaryrefrigerant such as solid carbon dioxide is introduced into container 4and all covers are replaced. The primary refrigerant absorbs heat fromthe secondary refrigerant in space A, thereby cooling it and increasingits density. At the same time the secondary refrigerantin the spaces B,C, D, and E is absorbing heat fromthe articles to be refrigerated, withthe result that its density in these regions is decreased.

Because of these diiferences in temperatures and densities the liquidwill flow back through pipes 50, SI, 52 and 53 into the top of space A,and at the same time the liquid move from space A through pipe I! intodistributor [3. It will then flow through the distributor at a ratedepending upon its adjustment. From the distributor it will move inquantities and at rates proportional to the internal bores of the pipes24, 25, 26 and 21 into the spaces B, C, D and E. Thus by thermo-siphonicaction this liquid will transfer the heat from the warmer articles tothe splid refrigerant where this heat will be absorbed in transformingthe solid carbon dioxide back to the gaseous state.

As pointed out above, the relative sizes of pipes 2 5, 25, 26 and 2!will be predetermined to secure the desired minimum temperatureconditions within the spaces to which they 'are connected. Thetemperatures to which these spaces are brought may then besimultaneously varied in unison by adjusting the distributor.

It should also be noted that the level of the secondary refrigerant inthe spaces B, C, D and E is higher than the level of the liquidin spaceA.

From this description it will be apparent that we have embodied ourinvention in but one physical form for purposes of illustration, andthat those skilled in the art will readily perceive other ways ofcarrying out the invention. We

do not, therefore, desire to be strictly limited to' the disclosure asgiven for purposes of illustration, but rather to the scope of theappended claims.

What we seek to secure by United States Letters Patent is:-

1. A refrigerating apparatus as described comprising a container for aprimary refrigerant, containers providing spaces to be refrigerated,jackets individually surrounding said containers and adapted to containa liquid heat transfer medium, a supply connection from the jacketsiirrounding the primary refrigerant container and a plurality of branchconnections extending therefrom to the jackets surrounding thecontainers forming spaces to be refrigerated, the internal bores of thebranch connections being of different size.

2. A refrigerating apparatus as described comprising a first jacketedcontainer and a plurality of additionaljacketed containers, a supplypipe extending from said first jacketed container, a distributorconnected thereto and branch pipes extending from said distributor tosaid plurality of jacketed containers, there being one pipe connected toeach jacket, the internal bores of said branch pipes being of relativelydifferent sizes and return pipe connections extending from the jacketsof said plurality of containers to the jacket of said first jacketedcontainer.

3. A refrigerating apparatus including a closed circulatory system for asecondary liquid refrig erant in which the closed circulatory systemcomprises a plurality of jacketed containers, a main distributing pipeextending from one of said jackets, a plurality of branch pipes ofdifferent internal bores extending from said main pipe to the remainingjackets, and return pipes connecting all of said remaining jackets withsaid first jacket.

4. A refrigerating apparatus as described comprising a double jacketedcontainer for a primary refrigerant, a plurality of double jacketedcontainers providing spacesto be refrigerated, a pipe connectionextending from said first jacketed container, an adjustable distributorconnected to said pipe, a branch pipe extending from each of the otherjacketed containers to said distributor, the internal bores of saidbranch pipes being of relatively different diameters, and returnconnections from said remaining jacketed containers to said firstjacketed container.

5. A refrigerating apparatus as described comprising a refrigerantcontainer havingdouble walls to provide a liquid space, a plurality -ofsubstance containers having double walls to prothe flow of liquidthrough the branch pipe connections.

6. Arefrigerant apparatus as described comprising a refrigerantcontainer having double walls to provide a liquid space, a plurality ofsubstance containers having double walls to provide liquid spaces, apipe extending from the liquid space of the refrigerant container, means'for controlling the rate of liquid flow through said pipe connectedthereto, a plurality of branch pipe connections of difierent' internaldiameters extending from said means to the liquid spaces of thesubstance containers, pipe connections extending from the liquid spacesof the substance containers to the liquid space of the refrigerantcontainer, and an insulating-casing surrounding all of said containerswhich open exteriorly thereof.

7; A refrigerating apparatus comprising a. cabinet, aplurality of metalcontainers mounted in said cabinet and opening exteriorly thereof, ajacket surrounding each of said containers and forming therewith closedspaces, a, branch connection from the jacket of one of said containersto the jackets of each of the other containers, the branches being ofdifferent internal diameters and return connections from said othercontainers to said first container, whereby a closed'circulatory systemis formed and a secondary liquid refrigerant in said circulatory system.

8. A refrigerating apparatus comprising a cabinet, a plurality of metalcontainers mounted in said cabinet and opening exteriorly thereof, ajacket surrounding each of said containers and forming therewith closedspaces, a branch connection from the jacket of one of said containers tothe jackets of each of the other containers, return connections fromsaid other containers to said first container, the branches being ofdifferent internal diameters whereby a closed ircula tory system isformed, asecondary liquid refrigerant in said circulatory system, andmeans in said branched connection for controlling the rate of flow ofthe liquid therethrough.

9. The method of varying and maintaining a plurality of spaces atdifferent temperatures by means of a single fluid stream at a particulartemperature comprising cooling the liquid to a particular temperatureand dividing and thermosiphonically circulating the cooled liquid instreams'of different volumes to maintain said spaces at difierenttemperatures and varying the volume of the single stream tosimultaneously vary the temperatures of said spaces.

10. A refrigerating apparatus including means for cooling a secondaryrefrigerant liquid, a plurality of -containers for holding articles tobe refrigerated, means comprising conduits of different internaldiameters for circulating the liquld in heat exchange relation with saidcontainers to maintain. them at different temperatures, and means forsimultaneously varying the volume of fluid passing through said conduitsfor simultaneously varying the temperature in said containers.

11. A device as described comprising a pair of relatively rotatable,longitudinally aligned, telescoped walls united to form a chamber, eachof said walls having a helical circumferential ridge, said ridges in oneposition of the walls contacting to form said chamber into a helicalpassage, a main supply connection to the passage and a plurality ofbranch connections from said passage and spaced from each other and fromthe supply connection.

12. A device as described comprising a pair of relatively movabletelescoped walls united to form a space therebetween, each of said wallshaving a. helical ridge on its surface, said ridges facing each otherand lying parallel in one position of the walls and at various angleswith respect to each other in other positions of the walls, a mainsupply connection to the space between the walls, and a plurality ofbranch connections from the space between the walls, saidbranchconnections being longitudinally distributed.

13. A device of the type described comprising a pair of telescopedcylinders, means forming with the cylinders a closed space therebetweenand for holding the cylinders longitudinally aligned, said cylindersbeing relatively rotatable and each having a spiral ridge onthe surfacethereof, said ridges contacting throughout their length in one positionof the cylinders and lying at various angles with respect to each otherfor the other positions of the cylinders, a supply-connection to thespace between the cylinders and a plurality of branch connections fromthe space between the cylinders.

\ JOHN R. LASSITER, Jn.

CLARA E. QUINN.

